Pud puts his hopes on magic route into Slipper

Date: March 28 2013

Chris Roots

Cessnock trainer Pud Davies will chase the Golden Slipper dream with Madame Fly in the Magic Night Stakes at Rosehill on Saturday. "The owner has the Slipper dream and we have a filly that is worth a go at it," Davies said. "I would have loved to get a run into her before this but we just ran out of time. She has had an easy and a hard trial at Cessnock and she won't disgrace herself against these fillies. We would rather be running in a class two than a group 2 but you don't get the chance to run in the Golden Slipper every day."

Punters' enigma

David Vandyke knows punters would be disappointed in his mare Choice Words but believe she could surprise them in Saturday's Birthday Card Stakes "provided everything goes right". Choice Words joins stable favourite Lamasery at Rosehill and both have each-way claims. "I think Choice Words has started favourite four out of her past five and not won," Vandyke said. "Punters probably hate her but she has been a good horse to her owners because she has won $58,000 in prizemoney and been stakes-placed twice in that time. She is a nice horse and you know what you will get with her, which is an honest run, but in this grade she has to get the break to win." Lamasery returns in the Ajax Stakes but his barrier trials have left Vandyke disappointed. "I think he is just taking a little more time to come to hand than usual," he said. "I think he can run a nice race but you will see his best when he steps up in trip."

What's in a name?

Golden Slipper contender All The Talk will run with a changed name in next week's $3.5 million feature to avoid confusion with a four-year-old from Cloncurry, near Mount Isa. The Gary Portelli flyer will be known as I'm All The Talk in the Slipper. "It doesn't matter what they called him if he wins it," Portelli said. "He trialled on Tuesday and won it as he liked, so all we need now is a good barrier." The Queensland outback horse, All The Torque, will not be challenging for any major races soon with career stats of 28 runs for a total of five wins.

Free Wi-Fi at races

Punters will be able to access free Wi-Fi for their tablets and smart phones at the Rosehill Guineas meeting. The Australian Turf Club has installed a robust network designed to cope with thousands of mobiles at the racecourse. "This is a great step forward," said Racing NSW chief executive Peter V'landys. "The ATC has commenced utilising the $24 million grant provided through the merger agreement with this smart project. These funds were intended for projects that improve the racegoer experience and a free, high-quality Wi-Fi network certainly does that. Customer access to the internet is extremely important in our industry, so this is a very positive initiative."

Changes to Cup

Victoria Racing Club chief executive David Courtney announced changes to the balloting conditions to this year's Melbourne Cup to provide more focus on current and staying form. Only performances that satisfy the first clause of balloting of wins in listed races of 2300 metres or further, or be placed in a group or graded race of 2300m and beyond, will be considered when the ballot is held. Previously, all prizemoney won since the sunset date was considered in the ballot but the sunset has been moved forward six months, so instead of August 1, 2011, it will be February 2012, with the exception of the placegetters from the 2011 Melbourne Cup and winner of 2011 Caulfield Cup. Some overseas races have been withdrawn as ballot-free.

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